The benefits of personal health records

Online personal health record applications, available through a growing number of federal employee health plans, have a variety of forms. But they all are designed to give federal employees a convenient way to track, view and manage personal health information and share that information with providers. Employees can put all their information in a PHR and print it as needed to take with them to medical appointment. More advanced PHRs have access to databases that provide drug interactions and generic versions.Online quality and price transparency tools include cost estimators and quality indicators for physician’s and hospital’s and prescription drugs used to treat common illnesses and conditions. Some examples of the types of surgical procedures that have cost and quality information available are: arthroscopy knee/ shoulder, breast biopsy, cataract repair, heart catheterization and knee replacement. The information lets users compare hospital, physician, prescription and other providers’ value.